Zambia intensifies drive towards nuclear energy

Nov 30, 2018

Zambia is steadily advancing efforts at actualising its nuclear energy goals. South Africa is currently the only country in Africa with an operational nuclear power plant. Zambia is however steadily advancing efforts at actualising its nuclear energy goals with the European country.

Shadreck Luwita, Zambia’s ambassador to Russia, recently revealed that the construction of a nuclear research reactor in Zambia with Russia’s assistance through ROSATOM – Russia’s state owned nuclear energy provider, is expected to begin in 2019. In February 2017, Russia and Zambia signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation on the construction of a nuclear science and technology center in Zambia.

Luwita stressed a great deal of work had already been done, in particular, an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement had been signed and the site for the construction of the nuclear reactor had been chosen. He further hinted, that the countries would most likely sign an agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the African state during the 11th ATOMEXPO international forum, due to be organised by Russia’s Rosatom state corporation next April.